An operation to remove the uterus, also called a hysterectomy, is done only if there are serious reasons for this. Therefore, a good doctor will never offer it to a patient that can be cured without having to remove the uterus. Extirpation of the uterus in our time can be carried out with a minimally traumatic effect. And yet this is a very important decision, because this operation is irreversible.
When can uterine extirpation be recommended?
- Abnormal bleeding from the uterus. It is called menorrhagia. It leads to anemia (due to loss of iron in the blood), weakness (associated with anemia) and, as a result, a serious disability. Menorrhagia is bleeding that lasts more than seven days or is so strong that in an hour the maximum capacity is soaked with blood. In the latter case, bleeding should last several hours in order to be able to make a diagnosis. Very often, such disorders are a symptom of cancer, and therefore those suffering from such symptoms need to be examined immediately. If menorrhagia is not associated with cancer, then they try to cure it with other methods. For example, drugs that increase blood coagulation, as well as hormonal drugs, help. The latter do not need to be afraid, in our time they are preliminarily very seriously checked before starting sales. And it's better to take hormones than to be left without a uterus.
- Fibroid. A benign neoplasm of fibrous and muscle tissue is located in the uterine wall. During pregnancy, increases, after menopause, by itself decreases. It can provoke intense menstruation, as well as characteristic pain in the uterus. It occurs quite often in a third of women. Only in very serious cases is hysterectomy recommended. More often they simply remove the tumor, after which the patient may have children. In mild cases, drugs that prevent the tumor from growing, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the most common oral contraceptives are effective.
- Prolapse of the pelvic organs . In this case, the muscles of the pelvis are weakened, and the ligaments are stretched. Because of this, the uterus may begin to fall into the vagina. Why is this happening? This is often associated with multiple pregnancies in which a woman gave birth naturally. It also happens when the patient constantly wears heavy things. So the prohibition to a woman to lift heavy cannot be ignored.
- Endometrial hyperplasia. In these cases, the inner lining of the uterus begins to grow rapidly and actively, which is a symptom of endometrial cancer. In cases where such a danger is serious, and hysterectomy is recommended. If the diagnosis is non-oncological, then simple treatment with drugs is dispensed with.
- Actually cancer of the cervix, endometrium or ovaries . In such cases, extirpation of the uterus with appendages is done.
- Uncontrolled bleeding after childbirth. It happens rarely, but to save a woman without removing the uterus is almost impossible. So in this case, hysterectomy is a necessary evil.
- Chronic pelvic pain . It is associated with adhesions of the pelvic organs among themselves. It is very painful. But not only the sexual, but also the urinary and digestive systems can be “to blame”. So in this case , the most complete examination is prescribed.
If it is decided to undergo surgery, the doctor and patient will have to decide whether to remove the appendages and cervix. How can hysterectomy affect the future? The consequences are due to the fact that if the ovaries were removed, a woman will have to put up with replacement therapy for life - after all, without ovaries, female hormones are almost not produced. Sexually, it does not matter whether the cervix remains in place or is removed, as evidenced by recent studies by German scientists.
Of course, to remove the uterus or not is a very serious choice. After all, not every woman can abandon natural motherhood. But if you have cancer, you can’t take risks.